3 players the Dodgers should trade for not named Shohei Ohtani
By Mark Powell
The Angels don’t plan on trading Shohei Ohtani to the Dodgers, per Jon Heyman. With that in mind, they have other, more pressing targets.
The Los Angeles Dodgers are expected to be the frontrunner for Shohei Ohtani’s services this offseason. It’s much of the reason they declined to make a significant free-agent offer this past offseason, and let Trea Turner walk to the Philadelphia Phillies over the winter. Frankly, Ohtani is the greater asset, and should demand a contract north of $500 million.
With the Angels rapidly losing ground in the AL West and AL Wild Card races with each passing game, they’ve been willing to listen to offers on their two-way star, who at this point is a rental. Any team which acquires Ohtani is voluntarily signing on to the concept that he’s only good for a few months of action. Once the season is over, Ohtani is fair game for any owner willing to meet his demands.
Per Jon Heyman’s latest report, Ohtani will not be traded to the crosstown Dodgers.
“Would they trade him to the (Los Angeles) Dodgers? No,” MLB Network’s Jon Heyman said Monday. “I spoke to somebody with the Dodgers, they realize he’s not getting traded to the Dodgers. Even if you think that he can sign long term with the Dodgers, (Angels owner) Arte Moreno is not going to do that.”
It seems much of the Angels conflict has to do with Moreno’s ego, even if the Dodgers can present a viable offer.
Dodgers rumors: Los Angeles should trade for Lucas Giolito instead of Shohei Ohtani
Lucas Giolito is a southern California native, and a rental pitcher who fits the Dodgers needs. He’s been floated to Los Angeles for the last few weeks, and the White Sox are willing to trade him.
Giolito is the most obvious Dodgers trade candidate, and he has a 3.45 ERA to boot. In his final start before the All-Star Break against the St. Louis Cardinals, he threw seven solid innings and gave up just two earned runs. Vincent Parise of SouthSide Showdown suggested a trade package that included three LA prospects, including Chase Petty (RHP), Logan Tanner (C), Jose Torres (2B/SS).
It’s clear the White Sox are hitting the reset button, all the while holding onto several members of their perceived core. Giolito is not one of those players.